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LA RIOJA, Argentina – The United States will have to wait at least a few days before clinching a spot in the 2019 basketball World Cup.
Nicolas Laprovittola scored 17 points, Lucio Redivo added 14, and Argentina slipped slowly to beat the United States, 80-63, in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday night ( Friday, Manila time). This victory allowed Argentina (8-1) to qualify for Group E in the Americas region, to a US match (7-2) with three games to play for both teams.
The first three teams in the division are assured of a place in the World Cup and the Americans can win Sunday in Uruguay.
Travis Trice scored 16 points for the United States, who were sentenced to 31-0 out of 23 in 13 minutes between the end of the second and third quarter.
The Americans led 12-0 early after Argentina missed its first 10 shots.
From there, it was basically all of Argentina.
The US lead was reduced to 16-13 after the first quarter, and the Americans were still up 30-26 with 3 minutes left in the half before Argentina started to roll. The hosts took a 35-32 lead in the locker room, then dominated the mark in the United States, 23-8, in third base – a pass crowned by Nicolas Brussino's 3-pointer in the left corner with a second left that overflowed 11,000 roaring seats.
Brussino scored 11 and the former NBA Luis Scola was 10 for Argentina.
The United States uses lists filled mainly by G League players during qualifying due to changes in FIBA rules. NBA players are not available for qualifying matches. However, if the United States qualifies for the World Cup in China, it will be the stars of the NBA that will take the relay for a third consecutive gold in the competition, which will serve as a qualifier for the Olympic Games in 2020 .
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Meanwhile, Uruguay has taken a big step forward in its quest for qualification from the Americas region.
Mathias Calfani's three-pointer, with 4.8 seconds to go, was part of a raging comeback when Uruguay beat Puerto Rico 64-62 in another Group E match Thursday. Uruguay (6-3) climbed to third place in the group, a win in Puerto Rico (5-4).
TIP-INS
United States: The United States did not make its first free throw before 9:09 in the fourth quarter. … Chasson Randle, Scotty Hopson and Reggie Hearn each scored nine points for the Americans, who shot just 35% and earned 8 points for 29 over a distance of 3 points.
Argentina: Not only did Argentina miss its first 10 shots, but it also missed its first six free throws. When Brussino finally connected with 30 seconds to make in the half, the local fans responded with sarcastic joy. … Laprovittola had eight assists, which is the total for the night in the United States.
IN MEMORY
A minute of silence was held before the game in memory of FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee member Patrick Baumann, who died in Argentina last month after a heart attack.
FOLLOWING
United States: visit to Uruguay Sunday.
Argentina: Welcomes Mexico Sunday.
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